BusinessLive reports that SA Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Blade has described criticism of the national minimum wage (NMW) rate of R20 per hour as an "opportunistic reaction".  

In a veiled attack on the SA Federation of Trade Unions’ (Saftu’s) opposition to the draft NMW legislation, Nzimande called out the federation for "going out on a strike by attacking other worker federations".  He was addressing the Cosatu’s Workers’ Day rally in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.  Saftu has been critical of Cosatu’s approval of the R20 an hour NMW, calling instead for a R12,500 monthly rate.  Cosatu was one of three federations that took part in the negotiations that led to the adoption of the draft NMW policy.  "Let’s not react opportunistically on the national minimum wage.  We can’t, therefore, say the NMW is going to benefit 6 million workers and say it’s all or nothing," Nzimande stated.  In the same breath, he called for unity in the labour movement, saying the country needed "broad working class unity".

• Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive

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